SECT. XI. 2. SENSORIAL ACTIONS. 59 



as the fmell of an hyacinth, or the tafte of a pine- 

 apple. 



Whence it appears, that our pleafures and pains 

 are at leaft as various and as numerous as our irri- 

 tations ; and that our defires and averfions muft be 

 as numerous as our pleafures and pains. And that 

 as fenfation is here ufed as a general term for our 

 numerous pleafures and pains, when they produce 

 the contractions of our fibres ; fo volition is the 

 general name for our defires and averfions, when 

 they produce fibrous contractions. Thus when a 

 motion of the central parts, or of the whole fenfo- 

 rium, terminates in the exertion of our mufcles, it 

 is generally called voluntary aftion ; when it ter- 

 minates in the exertion of our ideas, it is termed 

 recolledion, reafoning, determining. 



3. As the fenfations of pleafure and pain are ori- 

 ginally introduced by the irritations of external ob- 

 jects : fo our defires and averfions are originally in- 

 troduced by thofe fenfations ; for when the obje<5ts 

 of our pleafures or pains are at a diftance, and we 

 cannot inftantaneoufly poflefs the one, or avoid the 

 other, then defire or averfion is produced, and a 

 voluntary exertion of our ideas or mufcles fuc- 

 ceeds. 



The pain of hunger excites you to look out for 

 food, the tree, that (hades you, prefents its odori- 

 ferous fruit before your eyes, you approach, pluck, 

 and eat. 



The various movements of walking to the tree, 

 gathering the fruit, and mafticating it, are afTo- 

 elated motions introduced by their connexion with 

 ienfation -, but if from the uncommon height of the 

 tree, the fruit be inacceilible, and you are prevent- 

 ed from quickly poffefling the intended pleafure, 

 defire is produced. The confequence of this defire 

 is, firft, a deliberation about the means to gain the 

 objeft of pleafure in procefs of time, as it cannot 



F be 



